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SS 1 (Shinsei)

Shinsei (new star) was the first Japanese scientific satellite launched. Scientific
payload included solar radio receivers, cosmic-ray detectors, and ionospheric probes.
Power-supplying system consisted of solar cells and nickel cadmium batteries. The
satellite was a 26-sided body measuring 71.2 cm in diameter across the flat sides. All
experiments operated nominally after launch, except for the electron temperature probe
(damaged on separation) and one Geiger tube (failed after 3 days). Otherwise, good data
were received for four months until tape recorder failure. Only a very limited amount of
realtime data was subsequently obtained. By late 1973, the experimental equipment had
become no longer useful for meaningful scientific observations.